THE NEW YORKER degree, by which the police have large- ly usurped the functions of the trial courts; and have done it in so blunder- ing and heavy-handed a fashion that (as Mr. Hopkins' figures show) of 35,692 men arrested and charged with felony in fi ve cities, including New York, during one year, 21,588 Were never trIed at all-just held in deten- tion for several days, grilled, maybe beaten up, and then, having turned out to be the wrong guys after all, were set free. One of Mr. Hopkins' suggestions is that we've too many laws of too trivial a nature, and that in consequence the police are kept too busy supervising our personal conduct-when we shall cross the street, where we may smoke, and so on-to have much time left for the pursuit of actual criminals. This puts me in mind of an idea I've long had, which I now offer for the attention of the next \Vickersham Commission. I've always thought that about the best thing a quixotic millionaire could do would be to go around breaking our sillier laws, getting himself arrested, and then fighting the case to the limit. It would take a lot of time and money to do it, of cours . He'd have to have a staff of highly competent law- yers, to find which laws had a basis in constitutionality, and which hadn't and hence could fairly be attacked. He'd probably get slamlned around oc- casionally by policemen of hasty tem- per. But he'd have a lot of fun, and if he kept at it long enough he might help a little to bring our present fantas- tic system of legislation down to a basis of common sense. -R. M. C. . FIR.ST FR.OST There is a moon to touch with life The field mouse huddled in the grass, To make the wrinkled country wife A fey and fickle little lass. There is a wind to blow the bough Of tWIsted apple tree and peach; It tosses branches anyhow And tips the harsh fruit out of reach. There is a whimper in the air Of timid things that are astir; Close by, a bird cries out "Beware!" And calls her errant mate to her. This is a night for dreamless sleep Unbroken by a whispered word, But I, with memories to keep, Am one with moon and wind and bird. -ELSPETH 89 Friendly to the Teeth ... '... : .:: '\' .... \,: ','..v:.: '..,.-,;. :.... :..":"::: , '}k::, :; ::;\i: :, "t \ ,;"}:::b'J:;: "''=:. : :\ ,:: ,: :: :';:..":."'.. :: : ": 1::::: : \I 11m :::=: ..' ":A ;:iìl i ,,.. ,,,: .::' ,,::::A::""""",:>iA:'::,: .: :,' ' '?tt.......:......:, .,,:.:i;i:; \: :'::::.::::::,:- ..... ....;....":::::':w.'.,-:::.:..:. . ." : ": t ;:::;:1;. 1:7 & ,:::;::"fàtt, :,<> iW. '.: : :;:: ::'::1! 1\ .,..",h 0 . , ..:" t , ' :: : W I ',".. x:::: t ::::: ' :' ti :.x::c ::::: : ....:.:. '" '.. .. (.. ::' t :-8 " J iK'þ" .y: .:: 9jJi;;;S ;t::, 't \1 '1 : ,:g v'= {O: Þ "" ,::;".."::.'-' * :.':wL, ...:.:.ti l. ....--:..'.':':':-:.:':.:.:...: '.'.":""'if.::::: /;i;;$i;Wf " . .i::tb t.:::; ) =::.: . ,:=::'.:: ..:''' :.'. ,;' ,}:: >;, . :11 ia::::":::,:j :::::::':::;p if, :F. : : i:::":,::: !:ì,i: ' fi: :i: f.t:-:.;;-.::.:..::.: :\ . .::ft":: ,: ' ' " .. :<::j ' }.;.4 , " ::, J7 . ,.;,, \::;;ir ;.': :,* < 'Î' . ,. ,1 ''. <0'0"; . ' . % :1 '<;" ','1;", \\t::. . '\ '. \ :, ' Ii , ,.','d ':" ".: X&-f" ' ' ;:::, ,: .. M ::-: l Just ask any Old Gold smoker! A good cigarette is like a good friend. It aims to give you pleasure without causing you any annoyance or regrets. OLD GOLD is that kind of cigarette. . . and friend. It is not con- tent merely to give you a finer smoke. But it gives it to you without tainting your breath. Without leaving unsightly stains on your teeth, and with far less tendency to stain the fingers That's because OLD GOLD is a pure-tobacco cigarette. Free of cling- ing, staining, oily flavorings. It not only tastes good. . . it's good taste. NOT A C 0 UGH IN A CARLOAD @ P. Lorillard Co., Inc. NO "ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS II . . . TO TAINT THE BREATH OR STAIN THE TEETH